Rule's Addiction (The House of Rule 3)

“Never mind. I’ll say something to him, okay? Will that make you happy?” he asked with a resigned tone.

Erin blew out a breath and her expression softened. “Yeah.”

Garrett smiled and took her in his arms again. “I’ve got work to do,” he announced as he hugged her and ruffled her hair. “Catch you later, okay?”

“Okay,” she said as she turned to Maria with a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too,” Maria agreed, before Garrett grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

He wasted no time; he took her to his office and briefly introduced her to his secretary. Then he brought her inside and shut the door. “I’m sorry, I’ve been gone a long time, I’ve got to take a look at this stuff, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, tipping his head toward the sitting area.

As Garrett sat behind his desk and began flipping through folders and clicking through his computer, Maria walked around and sat down on the couch that faced the skyline of St. Louis. She could see the Arch in the distance and the Mississippi River behind it. The sky was a beautiful cerulean blue and she had to admit, the view from up here was arresting.

As she sank into the sofa cushions, she became lost in thought for a few moments until she heard him mutter, “Shit.”

She looked away from the view and focused on him. “What’s wrong?”

He ran his hand through his hair as if he’d like to be any place other than sitting behind a desk. “Same shit, another day.”

She shook her head and let out a laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Decisions . . . this game is nothing but fucking decisions. You make the right one, you make money. The wrong decision—not so much.”

Maria stood to her feet and wandered over, coming to stand next to him behind his desk. “What’s so difficult?” she teased, both curious and unused to being unproductive during the day.

His eyes stayed on the computer, where a picture of the front of a hotel was prominent, but his arm snaked out and wrapped around her, pulling her into his side.

She leaned into him, relaxing against him. “Are you thinking of buying that one?” she asked.

His hand ran up and down her hip. “Hmm? Yeah,” he answered, distractedly.

“So what’s holding you up?” She leaned in to get a better look. “The building looks well-maintained.”

His hand slid further around her, caressing her upper thigh. “Yeah, it seems to be.” At the same moment he clicked for the next picture, his hand caressed its way back to her hip, and Maria got the idea he mind was on one thing while his body was on another.

She continued to look at the picture. “What city?”

“Raleigh, North Carolina.”

As he clicked to the next picture, Maria slid her hand to the back of his head and absently began playing with his thick, dark hair. “I’m sure you’ve already checked the market demand for the area. What about residential real estate? Have the property values risen?”

“Yeah. It’s all solid.”

“Is it close to an Interstate? Easily accessible?” she asked, breathing in his scent.

His hand clenched her butt cheek. “Yeah.”

She sucked in a breath. “What about competition? Not too much?”

“Very little,” he said, his fingers clenching again.

She licked her lips and attempted to stay on subject. “Well, I’m guessing The Rule Corporation doesn’t have to worry about down payments or financials from that particular standpoint, right?”

He turned to her and lifted an eyebrow. “Right.”

“So, what’s the problem?” she asked again, noticing for the millionth time the gold flecks in his eyes.

He swiveled his chair toward her and spread his legs. “I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint it.”

His arm sank around her waist and her palms fell against his chest as she tried not to smile. “You’ve checked out the reviews and the room rates?”

His hand came up and encompassed her breast. “First thing.”

Her heart skipped a beat as his thumb brushed against her nipple. “Well, if you’ve done all your homework and you still can’t decide, you know what you have to do, right?”

“What’s that?” he asked, his eyes falling to her breasts.

His thumb continued to stroke and she swallowed shakily. “You’ve got to check-in for a few days, incognito,” Her eyes closed as her hips swayed into him. “Check out the food, the staffing, room—” her breath hitched, “—room service.”

He palmed her breast again as the arm he held around her waist lifted and pulled her closer. “You know your shit, don’t you?”

She leaned toward him and softly kissed him on the lips. “Only enough to be dangerous,” she whispered, smiling.

His hand left her breast and sank into her hair. “You are dangerous,” he said with a hint of something indeterminable in his voice. “Do you want to go with me?”

Her pulse accelerated. “Are you serious?”

“Sure. We can leave whenever,” he answered with a hint of satisfaction in his tone.